Hillary Clinton's blood clot in her skull, doctors say

WASHINGTON – The blood clot that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton suffered is inside her skull but did not result in a stroke or neurological damage, her spokesman said late Monday.

The clot was discovered during a routine MRI on Sunday as Clinton was recuperating from a fall and concussion, a statement from spokesman Philippe Reines and Clinton's doctors said. The doctors predicted a full recovery.

"The scan revealed that a right transverse sinus venous thrombosis had formed. This is a clot in the vein that is situated in the space between the brain and the skull behind the right ear," the statement said. "It did not result in a stroke, or neurological damage."

Doctors Lisa Bardack of the Mt. Kisco (N.Y.) Medical Group and Gigi El-Bayoumi of George Washington University said they are treating Clinton with blood thinners and that she will remain hospitalized until her medication regimen is established.

"In all other aspects of her recovery, the secretary is making excellent progress and we are confident she will make a full recovery," the doctors said. "She is in good spirits, engaging with her doctors, her family, and her staff."

It was not clear when Clinton, 65, planned to return to work, or whether she will travel overseas again as secretary of state. She had planned to return to work after the New Year holiday, and at least one farewell trip was expected in January or February.

As a result of her fall and concussion, Clinton did not testify before Congress on Dec. 20 about the Sept. 11 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. She also did not appear at the White House on Dec. 21, when President Barack Obama introduced Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as his nominee to succeed her.

Clinton has had at least one previous blood clot, in her right leg in 1998. At the time, she was treated with blood-thinning drugs.